Folding clothes drier



Oct. 3, 1950 A. H. COOPER 2,524,190

FOLDING CLOTHESYDRIER Filed April 2, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

A. H. COOPER FOLDING CLOTHES DRIER Filed April 2, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FQLDIllG CLOTHES DRIER AlvaH. Cooper, Atlanta, Ga. Application April 2, 1946, Serial No. 658,981

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to clothes dryers, and more particularly to clothes dryers of the portable type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a clothes dryer of this character which, when extended for drying articles thereon, will be exceptionally rigid, and one which may be readily collapsed or folded into a substantially small and compact article.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily extended or folded, without the use of tools such as wrenches, screw drivers, or the like.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a clothes dryer constructed in accordance with the invention, the clothes dryer being shown as in its extended position.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the clothes dryer.

Figure 3 is an end elevational View of the clothes dryer in a folded condition.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmental elevational viewillustrating one of the leg members of an end member as provided with a supporting block.

Figure 8 is a fragmental elevational view of one of the leg members as curved to fit over one edge of a bath tub.

Figure 9 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating a fixture curved to fit over the edge of a bath tub.

Referring to the drawings in detail, th dryer embodies end members 5, each 'of which comprises a pair of bars 6 pivotally connected at points intermediate their ends, as clearlyshown by Figure 2 of the drawings.

These end members 5 are held in spaced relation with respect to each other by means of the spacing bar 1 which comprises sections 8 and 9 that have their outer ends secured within the yokes ID that in turn have pivotal connection with the inner bars of the end members.

The reference character I I indicates a hinge that connects the inner ends of the bars 8 and 9, the bar 9 being provided with 2. splice bar l2 which is bolted thereto, by means of the bolts l3. This splice bar I2 is of a length to extend an appreciable distance over the inner end of the bar 8, where it is held in position by means of the band I4 which is slidably mounted on the bar 8. Thus it will be seen that when the frame is in its extended position, it will be securely held against collapsing, under the weight of the articles positioned thereon.

Clothes lines 15 are secured to the end members and are so arranged that when the drying rack is extended, the clothes lines will be stretched taut providing a support for articles to be dried. As shown by Figure l of the drawings, the end of the splice bar I2 is formed with a notch to receive the line l6 which is looped around the lowermost clothes line of the rack, thereby to elevate the lower clothes lines to hold them above the surface on which the folded dryer is positioned. It is obvious that when the dryer is extended for use, the line 16 may be moved to one end of the spacing bar 1, where it will be out of the way.

The lower ends of the bars 6 are provided with blocks 1 I that are bolted thereto, the blocks providing supports for the end members, when the dryer is supported on a bath tub or the like. In place of blocks [1, the ends of the bars 6 may be curved as at If! to fit over the curved edge of a, bath tub. A further modified form of end members support is shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, and embodies a curved fixture l9 which is bolted to the ends of the bars 6, the fixture 19 being curved to conform to the curvature of th upper edge of the bath tub. With this construction it will be seen that the dryer will be held firmly in position on a bath tub so that water may drip from the articles supported on the dryer. 1

What is claimed is:

A portable drying rack comprising end members embodying pairs of cross bars pivotally connected intermediate their ends providing supporting legs, a pivoted central brace bar securing the supporting legs in spaced relation with respect to each other, a splice bar having a notch in the free end thereof, said splice bar being secured to the central brace bar, said brace bar including upwardly swinging pivotally connected sections, yokes pivotally connected with the supporting legs and to which the central brace bar is secured, article supporting lines secured in spaced relation with respect to each other between the supporting legs, a line looped around,

the central brace bar and lowermost article supporting lines, the line looped around the central brace bar adapted to be positioned in the notch of the splice bar and elevated with the central brace bar as the central brace bar is folded, thus elevating the article supporting lines contacting with the line looped around the central brace bar to a position above the supporting surface on which the rack is positioned when the rack is in a folded condition, and support engaging members secured to the lower ends of the cross bars adapted to engage the edge of a supporting tub thus securing the rack in an upright position over the tub.

ALVA H. COOPER.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

